My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

I just finished up a GM 5.3 swap into the truck and I replaced everything from the fuel tank to the fuel rail on the motor with new parts. The fuel system is all plumbed in -06 Aeroquip socketless hose and -06 socketless fittings. I replaced the tank with a brand new tank and sending unit for a 1991 Jimmy and put the pump in the tank. I used a Holley/Walbro 255 LPH in tank pump and a regulator/filter from a 99 to 03 Vette. I am the 4th owner of this truck and this truck is an original Arizona truck so there is very little rust on it at all.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...0Jimmy/007.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...0Jimmy/008.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...0Jimmy/009.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...0Jimmy/006.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...0Jimmy/005.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...0Jimmy/004.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...0Jimmy/003.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...0Jimmy/002.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...0Jimmy/001.jpg

Specs :

Dana 60 front
Lock Right
1/4 Diff Cover
4:56 gears
New rotors, calipers and studs
New Wheel bearings
King Pins reworked
2.5 inch BDS front springs
ORD HD grease able shackles
ORD sway bar dico
ORD Steering box brace

14 Bolt rear
Detroit locker
4:56 gears
1/4 Diff cover
U joint / yoke rock guard
Rear disc conversion
New bearings and seals
shock mounts moved
axle perches moved
4 inch BDS rear springs
ORD HD grease able shackles

Built TH400
6 bolt round adapter
6 bolt round NP 205
New bearings, gaskets and seals in the NP 205

New 17X9 Pro Comp 1069 wheels with new 36X13.50X17 Irok bias tires. The tires have 27 miles on them and measure out the same as a 37x14.00X17 Irok which is 36.8 inches.

Hydoboost brakes

The inside of the tub has been Line X'ed

3000 watt continuous 6000 watt max inverter

New 31 gallon fuel tank with skid and very nice rear offroad bumper

Coated Street and Performance headers for a 5.3 swap into a 1973 to 87 GM Truck with a single Dynomax x flow muffler and no cats. The truck sounds great

New Taylor 10.4 wires, Taylor plug boots and with Bosch Platinum plugs

Flushed out the engine when we swapped it in and all I have ever ran in the motor is 5W20 Royal Purple oil.

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Here is a few pictures from when we dropped in the motor.

Picking up the motor from the dock...

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...69/photo-1.jpg

The Jimmy getting ready for the 5.3 swap.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...1000000269.jpg


http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...1000000270.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...1000000273.jpg

Pulled out the old tank and put in a new 31 gallon EFI tank with a sump and a in the tank fuel pump. The pump I used is a Holly 255LPH which was dumb on my part because it is nothing but a $100.00 in the tank Walbro pump I guess you live and learn. I also replaced the old fuel sending unit with a new EFI sending unit. All the fuel plumbing is going to be done in -06 Aeroquip Socketless hoes and -06 fittings. I am also using a Vette regulator and filter comb from Pace Performance with -06 fittings as well. I replace all the old straps to hold the tank in the truck and put on new anti squeak material.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...1000000271.jpg

We trashed all the old exhaust and I will be going with some mid length headers and a Magnaflow x pipe muffler.


http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...1000000272.jpg

My buddies 7 year and the head mechanic on this job. :lol:
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...1000000274.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...1000000277.jpg

New home for the 5.3

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...1000000278.jpg

Checking all the clearance

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...1000000280.jpg

And it is in...

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...1000000282.jpg

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Very cool. How does it run?

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Looks very cool and clean. I'm also interested in how it runs.
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Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

The truck runs great IMO the new GM motor is the way to go for motor swap. The old school SBC is an out dated dinosaur plus the new GM motor swaps are so eazy once you have done one and know what not to do on the next go around. I want to do a beater C20 with a healthy 6.0 6L80 next.
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Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Very nice! I bet the swap was a little difficult being the Jimmy is so tall!

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Not at all..... Just let the air out of the tires. There is more then one way to skin a cat.





Note: No cats were harmed during this engine swap...:lol:

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

I've read you have to use a spacer or adapre of some kind to bolt a LS up to a 3 speed..how did you go about it..

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

The Th400 will bolt up to the GMIII and GMIIII just fine. I used this along with this flex plate. I had to elongate the holes on the flex plate a little but it works fine.

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Nice! I like ur Jimmy.
Many companies supply the flexplate to connect a 3 speed, TH400 or 350 to an LS. Transdapt is one I believe, you can also get one from GM too.

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Or just use the factory flex plate depending on which one you have. The flex plate is not the problem the main thing is the pilot for the snout of the Tq converter.
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Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Sweet Jimmy! Nice work on the LSx swap too!

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Thanks man it truly is a blast to drive.
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Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Thanks for tha info

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Oneton,

Great truck, great swap! Thanks for sharing.

I'm a dot5 man myself.

TR

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Are you still thinking about selling it?

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

what engine mount brackets did you use?

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

No problem man!

Thanks bro!

Like I said if they got the money I got the title... :lol:

Street and Performance LS motor plates with these motor mounts. You will need to get the S&P plates that move the engine one inch back.

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

I'm about to finish my completely new brake system. What are the +/-'s of going DOT5?

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Withstands heat better, does not remove paint, and you get to put DOT5 only on your brake reservoir. :crazy:

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

What 1ton said plus it doesn't attract and absorb water. The paint and corrosion thing is what I do it for. It just isn't right to have an operating fluid ruin your paint with one drop. It is good stuff.

TR

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

You got anymore pics of your gauge set-up

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

1TON, love your K5

Any more info on the hydroboost setup. Follow any plans? What components did you use?

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

That turned out great 1tonjimmy!

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

I will get you some.
All the hydroboost stuff came from a 1986 CUCV

Coming from you that means a lot.... I was going to put this in it.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...16-09003-3.jpg

But Central Freight Lines destroyed it... The motor is a 8.1 from a 2006 1ton Chevy.

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

They destroyed it?

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Yes, the truck driver ran the pallet into the side of the box trailer breaking the banding material. He then delivers the motor 150 miles but on the journey to my buddies shop it is bounced around like a pop can all the way to me.... The damage done to the motor, harness, acc brackets, computer, DBW pedal, driver side head, valve covers and throttle body cost more then I paid to start with.
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Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Holy beat down! are they going to pay for the damage or replacement? so do you have a line on a new one?

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

I refused the motor from the shipping company so the problem was between the shipper and shipping company. The company I bought the motor from sent me the motor that is in the truck now and refunded me the difference. So if any of you guys ever get readyto do an LS swap check out Pacific Fabrication they are some great people to do business with.
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Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

thanks,
Did you use the 5.3 p/s pump and tap it or did you use a pump from a newer diesel truck w/ the extra port?

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

I used the pump that came on the 5.3 and adapted the pump to the truck. I used this on the back of the power steering pump. I used this at the booster on the firewall. I then used two of these with 40 inches of this to make up the high pressure hose.

The factory 5.3 pump only has one low pressure return side so I used a T to tie the two low pressure sides together. One side will come off of the firewall mounted booster the other one will come from the steering sector.

I could have swapped the PS pump out to a unit from a 2006 GMC 2500 HD that had Hydro boost but I was trying to save $$$ and my set up works like a dream. The pump from the HD has one high pressure and two low pressure returns but again T'ing the low pressure works great for me. :metal:

It turned out ok I think...

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...0Jimmy/004.jpg

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

It is not the most pretties thing in the world but it works... :lol:

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...ket_14861_.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...ket_14860_.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...ket_14859_.jpg


http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...0Jimmy/006.jpg
I also replaced the turn signal indicator and hi beam indicator with l.e.d lights.

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

I think it turned out great or I wouldn't be trying to copy it. Thanks for all the info.

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

That is a nice set up..

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

I'm curious as to what swap brackets you used. Any info?

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

...

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Man, that is too bad about the 8.1L. They are getting hard to find especially complete clean specimens like the one in your picture. That is going to cost them some big bucks. The brackets that were on it are okay if you not running A/C but would have been needed to be replaced for a cleaner swap when running A/C.

I also love your idea with the hydroboost lines. I played heck with having custom hoses made on my being the booster is metric tread while the steering gear is standard thread. Just finally got all that mess ironed out this week.

Again, everything looks great! You did a very clean job! :clap:

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Thanks man, if I ever get up to Pueblo we are going to need to go wheeling. I want to try some snow wheelin' and check out all your toys!

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

Sounds great! Bring your Jimmy with ya! We'll have a good time.

Re: My 1976 Jimmy with a 5.3
 

That thing is like the big bad brother to my 76.. Love it.:metal: